MSc Advanced Clinical Practice (Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy) Degree Apprenticeship

Start date: September
Duration: 3 years

Course Type: Postgraduate, Taught

Fees: The Apprenticeship is paid for by an employer, there are no costs incurred by the learner.

Our Advanced Clinical Practice (Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy) (Degree Apprenticeship) represents a new and exciting opportunity to gain an MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice (Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy), supported by employers and funded by the Degree Apprenticeship Levy.

This programme is accredited by the Centre for Advancing Practice.
Health Education England’s Centre for Advancing Practice has been established to standardise post-registration education by accrediting advanced practice courses that achieve the standards outlined in the multi-professional Advanced Practice Framework.

Practitioners who have completed accredited education programmes will be eligible to be listed on the Centre’s Advanced Practice Directory. Programme accreditation from the Centre for Advancing Practice will bring a new level of consistency to the workforce and help showcase advanced practice within health and social care.

Our aim at the University of Birmingham is to support registered physiotherapists to develop the practical knowledge and theoretical understanding required to undertake advanced clinical practice roles within the field of musculoskeletal physiotherapy.

Our Advanced Clinical Practice (Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy) Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship allows learners to gain a Masters level qualification funded by the Apprenticeship Levy. Aligned to the Advanced Clinical Practitioner Standard and the Multi-professional Framework for Advanced Clinical Practice in England, the programme has been developed to extend learner’s competence to advanced clinical practice level with the support of theoretical and experiential learning; with high quality, research informed person-centred care at its heart.

This programme facilitates the development of highly skilled registered musculoskeletal physiotherapists to enable delivery of clinical practice to an advanced level within a variety of clinical specialities and practice areas. With clear focus on the four pillars of advanced clinical practice (Clinical Practice, Education, Leadership and Research) this innovative course, designed in collaboration with healthcare professionals, aims to meet the challenges encountered by current healthcare services and providers by preparing dynamic and reflexive practitioners to ensure effective delivery of care for patients with increasingly complex needs. Drawing on theory, research, and clinical experiences the programme will enable you to lead and transform service delivery through research informed clinical practice.

With specialty specific competencies integrated with the generic core capabilities for Advanced Clinical Practice, this programme will enable you to lead and transform service delivery through research-informed clinical practice. As a Russell Group University, our programmes bring together world-class research and cutting-edge facilities to produce exceptional results.

The University also offers a standard Advanced Clinical Practice Degree Apprenticeship that integrates generic modules, including Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Decision Making, and Independent Prescribing (subject to professional regulation), with specialty specific components to meet individual work-based requirements.

Degree Apprenticeship Levy Funding

Discover all the latest information on the apprenticeship levy. Find out more about University of Birmingham Degree Apprenticeship provision here.

Guidance for Employers and Employees

The programme is fully levy-funding compliant. Talk to our Degree Apprenticeships team to understand what this might mean for you.

Why study this course?

The programme is accreditated by the Musculoskeletal Association of Chartered Physiotherapists.
The University is ranked in the world top 100 and joint 7th in the UK for Nursing (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022).
The programme fulfils the International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapy (IFOMPT) Educational Standards and affords eligibility to full membership of the Musculoskeletal Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (MACP) on completion of the MSc.
The programme is aligned to the Multi-professional Framework for Advanced Clinical Practice in England, with core modules in year one exploring the four pillars of advanced clinical practice.
The final year research project will allow you to undertake a service evaluation within your own clinical practice area. You will then disseminate your findings through a report prepared for publication and a clinical poster presentation.
Invaluable to your career progression, this programme will enable you to lead and transform service delivery through research-informed clinical practice.
You will have the opportunity to work collaboratively and network in a multi-professional learning environment with experienced practitioners, academic and teaching staff from a wide range of clinical specialities and practice areas.
The flexible mode of delivery will suit you and your employer needs through a blend of online and on-campus delivery. On-campus learning in year one is delivered across two day blocks, every two weeks to a fixed schedule enabling work commitments to be balanced. Learning in year two allows for the specialty specific components including modules Advanced Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy 1, Advanced Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy 2 and Continuing Professional Development and Mentored Practice.

Modules

Learners will have the opportunity to develop their knowledge, skills and behaviours in advanced musculoskeletal physiotherapy through an accredited pathway of mandatory modules. The clinically focused course integrates generic modules, including Advanced Physical Health Assessment and Advanced Clinical Decision Making, with specialty specific components including Advanced Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy 1, Advanced Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy 2 and Continuing Professional Development and Mentored Practice.

Learners are required to complete supervised practice within their clinical area with the support of practice supervisors and assessors to facilitate the synthesis of the theoretical and practical aspects of the course. The University will maintain a close partnership with practice areas for the duration of study, through tripartite meetings, to facilitate an inclusive and supportive learning environment. During clinically focused hours, students will be under direct and/or indirect supervision by their allocated practice assessor or supervisor to facilitate the completion of competency-based assessments and the development of a comprehensive evidence portfolio to demonstrate developing competence across the four pillars of practice.

All applicants must provide evidence of >1500 hours post qualifying experience in musculoskeletal physiotherapy on application.

Core modules:

Year One

Advanced Physical Health Assessment* (20 credits) - NB: Students will need to undertake 37 hours of supervised clinical practice
Advanced Clinical Decision Making* (20 credits)
The Reflective Advanced Practitioner (20 credits)

Year Two

Year Three

Consolidation of Advanced Clinical Practice: End Point Assessment (20 credits)
Research Project (40 credits)

*These modules are available on a stand-alone basis.

All students taking an MSc must complete the Research Project module and carry out an independent research project. All apprenticeship students will be required to undertake an end point assessment as part of the final 20 credit module in year three.

Learners are required to complete supervised practice within their clinical area with the support of practice supervisors and assessors and maintain a clinical portfolio reflecting the four pillars of Advanced Clinical Practice.

The University will maintain a close partnership with practice areas for the duration of study to facilitate an inclusive and supportive learning environment. During clinically focused hours, students will be under direct and/or indirect supervision by their allocated practice supervisor or assessor to facilitate the completion of competency-based assessments and the development of a comprehensive evidence portfolio to demonstrate developing competence across the four pillars of practice.

Fees

The programme is fully levy-funding compliant. Talk to our Degree Apprenticeships team to understand what this might mean for you.

How To Apply

You will need to apply for the Apprenticeship programme through your employer, who will have their own selection criteria.

For all enquiries relating to this Degree Apprenticeship programme please contact our Apprenticeships Team via the apprenticeship enquiry form.

Terms and conditions – what you need to know

Our Standard Requirements

Typical entry requirements

All apprentices should:

Be employed by a health or social care organisation.
Hold current registration as a physiotherapist with the HCPC
Have at least 36 months clinical experience post qualification.
Provide evidence of >1500 hours post qualifying experience in musculoskeletal physiotherapy.
Normally hold an honours degree in their clinical field of practice.
Demonstrate evidence of continuing professional development that shows an ability to study at Masters level.

Learners require full support from their employing organisation to facilitate the requirements of the clinical supervision.

The ESFA rules state that all apprentices must achieve English and Mathematics at level 2 (GCSE grade A* - C or equivalent) prior to taking their End Point Assessment.

International students:
This course is not available for international students. The MSc Advanced Practice in Healthcare programme is offered within the School of Nursing and Midwifery designed with international students in mind from a range of registered healthcare professionals.

Please note: this programme does not offer a route to HCPC registration/employment in the UK.

Careers Network – We can help you get ahead in the job market and develop your career

We recognise that as a postgraduate student you are likely to have specific requirements when it comes to planning for your next career step. Employers expect postgraduates to have a range of skills that exceed their subject knowledge. Careers Network offers a range of events and support services that are designed for all students, including postgraduates looking to find their niche in the job market. The Careers Network also have subject specific careers consultants and advisers for each College so you can be assured the information you receive will be relevant to your subject area. For more information visit the Careers Network website.